On Friday, Ukraine said it had attacked Russian military positions in the southern region of Kherson and that Ukrainian forces were retaking territory that Russian forces had seized in the early days of the invasion.

“Our aircraft carried out a series of attacks on enemy bases, equipment and personnel gatherings, and field warehouses around five different settlements in the Kherson area,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
Kherson, in northern Crimea, was annexed by Russia in 2014 and was one of the first areas to come under Russian control after the February 24 invasion.

Ukraine has launched an offensive to retake territory there, and the president said at a Friday morning briefing that the military situation there remained tense.

“A series of loud explosions were heard throughout the day, and fighting continued on the border in the area,” it said.
Authorities in Moscow held a referendum on integration with Russia in occupied Kherson, mirroring a controversial vote in Crimea in 2014.

They had earlier announced the introduction of the Russian currency ruble into the region.